Landmark steamboat looks to find new life as floating hotel

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The Delta Queen once ran up and down the Mississippi River. In October, the boat lost its exemption to operate overnight river cruises for up to 176 passengers due to fire safety concerns and will now operate as a floating hotel.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Banished from America's waterways as a cruise vessel, the 82-year-old sternwheel steamboat Delta Queen hopes to find new life as a floating hotel and lounge on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga.

Hundreds of people turned out under gray skies for a welcome ceremony Feb. 11 as the historic boat sailed in from New Orleans, and some well-wishers were allowed aboard the 285-foot-long Queen. In October, the boat lost its exemption to operate overnight river cruises for up to 176 passengers. Due to fire safety concerns, federal law prohibits such boats from carrying more than 50 overnight passengers.

The floating hotel will be managed by Sydney Slome, owner of Chattanooga's StoneFort Inn. Historically themed tours, jazz brunches and entertainment including riverboat gambler card magic acts are planned when it opens for guests in April.

The Delta Queen once ran up and down the Mississippi River and docked in Cincinnati. The boat is a National Historic Landmark.

A twin vessel also completed in 1927, the Delta King, is permanently moored in Sacramento, Calif., as a hotel and restaurant.

Chattanooga fire marshal Craig Haney said the boat, which also has a history of service in the Navy, has sprinkler and fire alarm systems and will be thoroughly inspected before the planned opening of the 87 cabins, lounge and kitchen at Coolidge Park Landing in April.

The owners, Ambassadors International Inc., have chartered the mostly wooden vessel to Chattanooga Water Taxi owner Harry Phillips while they attempt to find a buyer to again operate it for overnight cruises. The company said in a statement that the Queen is the last of the traditional steamboats to carry overnight guests on inland waterways.

The boat, with smokestacks 57 feet high, settled into its new home with much fanfare as its steam-powered organ tooted tunes such as "Rocky Top," the University of Tennessee fight song.

Thirteen-year-old Donna Ann Byrtus of Chattanooga said she had never seen such a sight. "I just think it's really cool," she said. "I wonder if like any movie stars have been on it."

Vessel historian Bill Wiemuth said actress Helen Hayes was a passenger many times and former President Jimmy Carter was a passenger in 1979.

Don Clemens, 55, of Chattanooga said while standing on Chattanooga's redeveloped riverfront that seeing the Queen brought back memories of watching the boat when he was growing up in Cincinnati.

"I used to watch them run up and down the river when I was a kid," said Clemens, a U.S. Navy retiree. "I am thrilled it is coming here. I've never been on it. I sat on the bank and watched it go by. They would have the steam boat races. It was fun just to see the big old thing and listen to the calliope."